Acciona is considered to be a model for clean energy development in Australia
ACCIONA is a global wind power leader. The Vedadillo Experimental Area in Navarra is one of the hubs used by the company to test the efficiency of its turbines and towers, and the Leaders got to see them in operation on site. Although it was created for research purposes, Vedadillo generates a significant amount of energy (around 27 GW a year), enough to power 7,000 households.
These control centres send information about their turbines to CECOER (Renewable Energy Control Centre), which was the next stop on the Leaders' itinerary. This is the world's largest control centre, monitoring 7,000 wind generators from 258 wind farms worldwide (including in Australia). The Centre was recently the focus of a feature by Australian network ABC News. As pioneers in the roll-out and development of wind power, ACCIONA and Spain as a whole are seen in Australia as a model for renewable energy implementation.
As an expert in renewable energies, Giles Parkinson was particularly interested in this leg of the tour. The Leaders were offered information about the implementation in Australia of technologies developed in Spain, the difference in the cost of wind farms in the two countries and the protocols in place for ACCIONA's control centres to be able to monitor other areas in the event of technical problems.
ACCIONA is the world's largest company completely devoted to clean energies. Its activity is mainly focused around wind power, although it also develops photovoltaic, solar thermal, hydroelectric and biomass projects worldwide. Among all of these sources, it produces enough to power six million households.
ACCIONA's footprint in Australia dates back to 2002. Since then, it has invested over 650 million Australian dollars and its business scope spans wind power (with three wind farms and a fourth set to become operative in Victoria in 2018) and infrastructure (its Toowoomba highway project has received several awards), as well as water treatment and desalination.
Galería de imágenes del paseo turístico por Pamplona
Australian Leaders Programme: Activity summary
Artículo publicado por Giles Parkinson en Renew Economy: Spain looks to re-boot renewables as economy recovers
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